Thermodynamic sanitary water heating device comprising a box with a lip for draining the condensates

Abstract

A thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device (1) comprising a water storage tank (2), a bucket (9) mounted on the upper part (4) of the tank (2) forming a base (8) and a peripheral wall (10) to create a receiving space (33), a removable casing (16) mounted on the bucket (9) with a side wall (32) and a top surface (20) partially forming the receiving space (33), a water heating module (5) and a heat pump (6) partially disposed in the receiving space (33), and an air extraction module (15) mounted inside the receiving space (33), characterized by a lip (42) on the side wall (32) of the casing (16) resting on the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9), forming a flow slope (47) to allow the condensate to flow towards the base (8). of the box (16).

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the building sector, particularly domestic hot water. Specifically, the invention relates to a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device comprising a casing with a condensate drain lip. Technological background

[0002] There are thermodynamic domestic hot water heating systems, i.e., those incorporating a heat pump for domestic hot water heating, in which the cold source for pumping is derived from a building's ventilation flow. They are thus called "combined" because they provide both hot water production and building ventilation.

[0003] Generally, a heat exchanger for the heat pump is mounted above the storage tank in a bucket, closed by a box.

[0004] The presence of the heat pump in the casing can generate a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the casing, promoting the formation of condensation on an inner wall of the casing.

[0005] To manage this condensation, and prevent it from flowing outwards, it is known that a side wall of the bucket covers the bottom of the box from the outside so as to make it flow towards an internal network of the device, in the manner of a gutter.

[0006] However, this design creates a discontinuity on the exterior of the device. This design necessitates lifting the enclosure, even slightly, upwards for assembly or disassembly. This movement is not always possible when the device is installed in a confined space.

[0007] Furthermore, for aesthetic reasons, a device with an uninterrupted outer surface is preferable.

[0008] Documents WO2024 / 252884 and WO2024 / 066845 describe thermodynamic domestic hot water heating devices.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating system with a heat pump to address the disadvantages mentioned above. Summary of the invention

[0010] The present invention addresses these needs through a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device comprising: a water storage tank; a bucket mounted on the upper part of the tank, the bucket forming a base and comprising a peripheral wall extending from and around the base to form at least partially a receiving space; a box mounted removably on the bucket and comprising a side wall of the box and a top surface of the box to form at least partially with the bucket the receiving space; a water heating module comprising a heat pump, at least part of the heat pump being disposed in the receiving space; an air extraction module mounted inside the receiving space; characterized in that The box includes a lip extending from an inner surface of the box's side wall, the lip resting on an upper edge of the bucket's peripheral wall, the lip forming a flow slope configured to permit the flow of condensate formed on the inner surface of the box's side wall towards the bottom of the box.

[0011] By "a removablely mounted box" is meant that at least part of the box, in particular the whole box, is removablely mounted on the bucket.

[0012] The term "exhaust air" refers to air extracted from inside the building, particularly for the removal of stale air and / or air renewal within the building, air extracted from inside the building near the device, or air extracted from outside via ducts. Specifically, the air extracted from the building is the heat source for the heat pump that heats the water in the storage tank.

[0013] The presence of the lip, which creates a slope for drainage, guides the condensate formed on the inner surface of the container's side wall towards the inside of the collection chamber. This eliminates the need for a side wall of the bucket that extends beyond the bottom of the container, as in the aforementioned prior art. Consequently, during assembly and disassembly, the container's movement is no longer restricted by the need to remove the bottom of the container from the bucket.

[0014] Furthermore, since condensate management takes place inside the casing, the system can be built without any discontinuity in its external surface. In particular, the external surface of the water storage tank can be continuous with the external surface of the casing.

[0015] More specifically, the water storage tank may include a tank covered at least on a peripheral surface by a side wall of a mantle, the side wall of the casing extending in line with the side wall of the mantle.

[0016] In particular, the outer surface of the side wall of said mantle preferably extends in continuity with an outer surface of the side wall of the caisson.

[0017] The balloon expands along a main direction, notably vertically.

[0018] The lateral wall of the mantle can surround the tank around the main direction.

[0019] The bottom of the bucket can extend in a plane perpendicular to the main direction.

[0020] The outer wall of the bucket can extend from the bottom around the main direction and substantially parallel to the main direction. Thus, the outer wall of the bucket forms a rim starting from the bottom and extending along the main direction.

[0021] The side wall of the box can extend around the main direction and substantially parallel to the main direction.

[0022] The upper wall of the box can extend in a plane perpendicular to the main direction.

[0023] The water storage tank preferably has a circular cross-section transverse to the main direction.

[0024] The outline of the peripheral wall of the bucket and / or the outline of the side wall of the container taken transversely to the main direction is preferably circular.

[0025] The water storage tank preferably includes thermal insulation positioned between the tank and the casing.

[0026] The side wall of the box can overlap, preferably completely, the peripheral wall of the bucket.

[0027] The lip of the box can extend from the inner surface of the side wall of the box to at least partially cover an edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket.

[0028] The rim of the box can extend from the inner surface of the side wall of the box beyond the edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket.

[0029] The lip may include a lower face intended to be in contact with the upper edge and an upper surface opposite the lower face, the flow slope being formed on the upper face of the lip.

[0030] The box may comprise two shells removably fixed to each other, each shell forming a half side wall of the box and a half top surface of the box, the half side walls of the box forming the side wall of the box and the half top surfaces of the box forming the top surface of the box; each shell comprising, on an inner surface of the half side wall of the box, a half lip, the half lips together forming said lip of the box.

[0031] The shells can be configured to be elastically deformed when mounted on the device, particularly on the bucket.

[0032] Each of the side walls of the box can extend along an angular sector around the main direction, in particular an angular sector around the main direction of 180°.

[0033] The half-lip of at least one of the shells may have a configured interruption to facilitate the elastic deformation of said shell when mounted on the device, in particular on the bucket.

[0034] By "interruption," we mean a discontinuity in the half-lip leading to at least a reduction in its width. Thus, this interruption forms a preferential zone of deformation.

[0035] The deformation of the side panel required for assembly involves bending around an axis parallel to the main direction to initiate a displacement of each end edge of the side panel. This displacement of the end edges facilitates the attachment and positioning of the container on the bucket.

[0036] The interruption may be present in a central position of the half-lip.

[0037] The length of the interruption, measured along a direction of elongation of the half-lip, may be less than 20% of the length of the half-lip, measured along the direction of elongation of the half-lip.

[0038] By "interruption length" and "half-lip length" we mean the distances traveled by a point from one end to the other of the object concerned along the direction of elongation of the half-lip.

[0039] The bucket may include a network of surfaces and / or conduits for directing condensate flowing from the rim to a lower portion of the bucket housing a condensate reservoir. This network of surfaces and / or conduits may include one or more of the following: a slope, a gutter, a guide, a conduit, and a ramp configured to direct the condensate to the condensate reservoir or a storage area.

[0040] The upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket may form a cavity receiving a sealing gasket, the lip resting on said sealing gasket.

[0041] The cavity receiving the sealing gasket may include at least one opening configured to evacuate any potential condensate present in said cavity.

[0042] This at least one opening preferably leads into the receiving space. In this way, condensate from the cavity can be guided to the condensate tank via the network of surfaces and / or pipes.

[0043] Alternatively, the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket may include a chamfer or a fillet, in particular a fillet concave with respect to the receiving space.

[0044] The lip can be in a lower part of the casing.

[0045] The height of the peripheral wall of the bucket perpendicular to the bottom may be less than the height of the side wall of the container perpendicular to the bottom.

[0046] The heat pump may include a first water heating heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger being positioned in the receiving space, particularly on the bottom.

[0047] The enclosure may include an air inlet and an air outlet.

[0048] The extraction module can be configured to create an airflow through the second heat exchanger.

[0049] The extraction module may include a fan or is configured to be connected to a fan, the fan being configured to allow air circulation between the inlet and outlet.

[0050] The flow slope of the lip can be a downward slope from the inner surface of the side wall of the box towards the receiving space.

[0051] In a cross-section relative to the main direction, the flow slope of the lip may form an angle between 0.5° and 20° with respect to an axis perpendicular to the main direction extending in the plane of said cross-section.

[0052] The storage tank can have a water storage volume of between 50 l and 300 l.

[0053] The heating device is preferably configured to be suspended from a support, such as a wall, above the floor.

[0054] The lip may have a substantially flat lower surface resting directly on a flat portion of the upper edge of the bucket's peripheral wall. In a cross-section, the lower surface may form a non-zero angle with the flat portion of the upper edge, creating a line of contact between the lip and the upper edge of the bucket's peripheral wall. This line of contact between the lip and the upper edge of the bucket's peripheral wall ensures a good airtight seal and good mechanical strength of the rim.

[0055] Preferably, the lip of the box extends from the inner surface of the side wall of the box beyond said contact line.

[0056] The lower surface of the lip and / or the flat portion of the upper edge is preferably sloping upwards from the side wall of the box towards the receiving space.

[0057] The lower surface of the lip is formed by the underside of the lip. The upper surface of the lip is formed by the upper side of the lip. Brief description of the figures

[0058] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will clearly explain the nature of the invention and how it can be implemented. Regarding the accompanying figures: [ Fig. 1 ] illustrates, in perspective, an example of a device according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] illustrates, in perspective, an upper part of the device of the figure 1 , a shell of the caisson being omitted; Fig. 3 ] illustrates, in perspective, partially, a shell of the device's housing figure 1 ; Fig. 4 ] is a longitudinal section of the device of the figure 1 at the junction between the water storage tank and the casing; [ Fig. 5 ] illustrates, in perspective, partially, the bucket of the device of the figure 1 ; Fig. 6 ] is a view similar to that of the figure 4 illustrating a variant of the device; and [ Fig. 7 ] is an enlargement of the figure 4 according to VII. Description of method(s) of implementation

[0059] In the following description, identical elements or elements with identical functions are designated by the same reference numeral. For the sake of brevity, they are not described alongside each figure; only the differences between the embodiments are described.

[0060] We illustrated on the figures 1 to 5 an example of a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device 1 according to the invention.

[0061] Device 1 includes a domestic hot water storage tank 2 extending along a vertical principal direction X. Tank 2 has, for example, a storage volume of 200 liters.

[0062] The ball 2 thus comprises a lower part 3, which is intended to be directed towards the ground, and an upper part 4, opposite the lower part 3.

[0063] Device 1 includes a bucket 9 mounted on the upper part 4 of the balloon 2, as illustrated in view of the figure 2 notably.

[0064] The bucket 9 includes a base 8 which preferably extends in a substantially horizontal plane P, that is, transversely to the main direction X of ball 2.

[0065] The bucket 9 also has a peripheral wall 10 around the bottom 8 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the bottom 8.

[0066] Device 1 includes a box 16 formed of two shells 17 and 18 mounted removably on the bucket 9. In this example, one of the shells is called the front shell 17, the other is called the rear shell 18.

[0067] Shells 17 and 18 each form a half side wall of box 30 which together form, when shells 17 and 18 are mounted on bucket 9, a side wall of box 32.

[0068] Shells 17 and 18 each form a half upper surface of box 31 which together form, when shells 17 and 18 are mounted on bucket 9, an upper surface of box 20.

[0069] The side wall of box 32 and the upper surface of box 20 together with the bucket 9 form a receiving space 33.

[0070] Device 1 comprises, as illustrated in the view of the figure 2 , a water heating module 5 comprising a heat pump 6.

[0071] Heat pump 6 includes a water heating heat exchanger (not shown) which is, for example, located inside tank 2.

[0072] The heat pump 6 also includes a second heat exchanger 7 positioned in the receiving space 33.

[0073] Device 1 also includes an air extraction module 15 mounted on the bottom 8.

[0074] The air extraction module 15 also includes a fan 21 mounted on the bottom 8 in the receiving space 33 allowing an airflow between an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23.

[0075] The air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 are positioned on the upper half surface 31 of the rear shell 18 of the box 16. The air extraction module 15 is configured so that the airflow passes through the second heat exchanger 7.

[0076] The air extraction module 15 may include branch connections at the inlet 22 and outlet 23.

[0077] The height Hp of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9 taken perpendicular to the bottom 8, which is substantially constant, is less than the height He of the half-side wall of the box 30, and therefore of the side wall of the box 32, perpendicular to the bottom 8.

[0078] The balloon 2 comprises on a peripheral surface a mantle 37 having a lateral wall 36. The mantle 37 covers a tank, not visible in the figures.

[0079] As illustrated in particular on the Figures 1 And 4 , the side wall of caisson 31 extends in line with the side wall 36 of mantle 37.

[0080] In particular, the outer surface of the side wall 36 of the mantle 37 preferably extends in continuity with the outer surface of the side wall of the caisson 32.

[0081] Each shell 17 and 18 is configured to be removably mounted on the bucket 9 by a movement along a mounting axis T substantially transverse to the main direction X. Thus, each shell is preferably configured to be mounted on the bucket in a substantially horizontal plane which allows for easy handling of the box in a very constrained space environment, such as a cupboard or in the case where the heating device is located very close to the ceiling of the room.

[0082] For this assembly on the bucket 9, the shells 17 and 18 are configured to deform elastically by bending around an axis parallel to the main direction X to initiate a lateral displacement Dt of each of the end edges 35 of the lateral half-wall 30. The lateral displacement Dt is carried out along an axis substantially perpendicular to the main direction X and to the assembly axis T.

[0083] The side wall 36 of the mantle 37 can surround the tank around the main direction X.

[0084] The side wall of the box 32 can extend around the main direction X and substantially parallel to the main direction X.

[0085] The upper wall of box 20 can extend in a plane perpendicular to the main direction X.

[0086] The water storage tank 2 is preferably circular in cross-section transverse to the main direction X.

[0087] The contour of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9 and the contour of the side wall of the box 32 taken transversely to the main direction X is preferably circular.

[0088] As illustrated in particular on the figures 3 And 4, each shell 17 and 18 includes a half-lip 41 which extends from a lower portion of an inner surface 40 of the lateral half-wall of the box 30. Each half-lip 41 extends in particular in a plane substantially transverse to the main direction X.

[0089] When the shells 17 and 18 are mounted on the bucket 9, the half-lips 41 together form a lip 42 of the box 16 which extends around the main direction X.

[0090] Each half-lip 41 has a lower surface 45, oriented downwards, which rests directly on a flat portion 48 of an upper edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9.

[0091] More specifically, as illustrated in the view of the figure 7, in a cross-section, the lower surface 45 can form a non-zero angle D with respect to the flat portion 48 of the upper edge 46 so as to form a line of contact Lc between each half-lip 41, and therefore between the lip 42, and the upper edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9.

[0092] The lower surface 45 and the flat portion 48 of the upper edge 46 are preferably sloping upwards from the side wall of the box 32 towards the receiving space 33.

[0093] Preferably, each half-lip 41, and therefore the lip 42, extends from the inner surface 40 of the side wall half of box 30, and therefore of the side wall of box 32, beyond said contact line Lc.

[0094] Opposite the lower surface 45, each half-lip 41, and therefore the lip 42, includes a flow slope 47 with a downward slope from the lateral half-wall of the caisson 30 towards the receiving space 33.

[0095] In particular, in a cross-section with respect to the principal direction X, the flow slope 47 can form an angle B between 0.5° and 20° with respect to an axis Y perpendicular to the principal direction X extending in the plane of said cross-section.

[0096] The flow slope 47 thus allows the flow of condensates formed on the inner surface 40 of the side wall of the box 32 towards the bottom 8 of the bucket 9.

[0097] In the embodiment illustrated on the figure 4 , each half-lip 41, and therefore lip 42, extends beyond the edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9. In this way, at least part of the condensants flowing from lip 42 fall directly into bucket 9.

[0098] To add an additional guarantee of sealing, both against condensate and air, the edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9 can be provided with a cavity 50 open at the top and receiving a sealing gasket 51, the lip 42 resting on said sealing gasket 51.

[0099] The cavity 50 can extend transversely and around the main X direction.

[0100] As illustrated in the view of the figure 5 , the cavity 50 may include at least one opening 52, in this example three openings on each shell 17 and 18, configured to evacuate a potential condensate present in said cavity 50.

[0101] The opening 52 is formed between an inner peripheral wall 53 of the cavity 50 and the receiving space 33 to allow the condensant to flow towards the bottom 8 of the bucket 9.

[0102] The view of the figure 5also allows to illustrate that the bucket 9 includes a network 55 of surfaces and / or conduits allowing to direct the condensates flowing from the lip 42 or the openings 52 to a lower part of the bucket 9 receiving a condensate reservoir (not visible in the figures).

[0103] In an alternative embodiment illustrated on the figure 6 , the edge 46 does not include a cavity for receiving a seal, but a fillet 56 concave with respect to the receiving space 33 at the level of an edge 57 inside the edge 46.

[0104] In this example, the half-lip 41 completely covers the top of the fillet 56. However, the half-lip 41 could partially cover, or not at all, the top of the fillet 56. In this case, the condensate flowing from the slope 47 will flow into the fillet 56 before flowing into the bottom 8 of the bucket 9.

[0105] In the modes of embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 and of the figure 6, the bucket 9 includes an outer skirt 60, extending from the edge 46. This outer skirt 60 allows the insertion of an upper part 61 of the mantle 37 between the outer skirt 60 and the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9.

[0106] Furthermore, the edge 46 is provided with an external radial bead 62 which is inserted between the half-lip 41 of each shell 17 and 18 and an internal rib 63 on the internal surface 40 of the lateral half-wall of the box 30. This insertion allows a locking of each half-shell 17 and 18 along the main direction X.

[0107] As illustrated in the view of the figure 3, the half-lip 41 of at least one of the shells 17 and 18, in this example at least the rear shell 18, has a break 65 configured to facilitate the elastic deformation of said shell 17 or 18 and the lateral displacement Dt of each of the end edges 35 of the lateral half-wall 30 when mounted on the bucket 9.

[0108] The interrupt 65 is present at a central position of the half-lip 41. However, the interrupt 65 could be at another position between the two end edges 35 of the lateral half-wall 30. In an unillustrated variant, the half-lip 41 could include a plurality of interrupts 65.

[0109] In this example, the length Li of the interruption 65, measured along an elongation direction E of the half-lip 41, is less than 20% of the length LI of the half-lip 41, measured along the elongation direction E.

[0110] The interruption 65 is here formed by a reduction in width La of the half-lip 45, down to a width almost zero or zero.

Claims

1. A thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device (1) comprising: - a water storage tank (2); - a bucket (9) mounted on an upper part (4) of the tank (2), the bucket (9) forming a base (8) and comprising a peripheral wall (10) extending from and around the base (8) to form at least partially a receiving space (33); - a casing (16) removably mounted on the bucket (9) and comprising a casing side wall (32) and a casing top surface (20) to form at least partially with the bucket (9) the receiving space (33); - a water heating module (5) comprising a heat pump (6), at least a part of the heat pump (6) being disposed in the receiving space (33); - an air extraction module (15) mounted inside the receiving space (33); characterized in thatthe box (16) includes a lip (42) extending from an inner surface (40) of the side wall of the box (32), the lip (42) resting on an upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9), the lip (42) forming a flow slope (47) configured to allow the flow of condensates formed on the inner surface (40) of the side wall of the box (32) towards the bottom (8) of the box (16).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lip (42) of the box (16) extends from the inner surface (40) of the side wall of the box (32) beyond the edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lip includes a lower face intended to be in contact with the upper edge (46) and an upper surface opposite the lower face, the flow slope (47) being formed on the upper face of the lip (42).

4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lip (42) has a substantially flat lower surface (45) resting directly on a flat portion (48) of the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9), and that, in a cross-section, the lower surface (45) forms a non-zero angle (D) with respect to the flat portion (48) of the upper edge (46) so as to form a line of contact (Lc) between the lip (42) and the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9).

5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe box (16) comprises two shells (17; 18) removably fixed to each other, each shell (17; 18) forming a half-side wall of box (30) and a half-upper surface of box (31), the half-side walls of box (30) forming the side wall of box (30) and the half-upper surfaces of box (31) forming the upper surface of box (20); each shell (17; 18) comprising, on an inner surface (40) of the half-side wall of box (30), a half-lip (41), the half-lips (41) together forming said lip (42) of the box (16).

6. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shells (17; 18) are configured to be elastically deformed when mounted on the device (1), in particular on the bucket (9), and in thatthe half-lip (41) of at least one of the shells (17; 18) has a break (65) configured to facilitate the elastic deformation of said shell (17; 18) when mounted on the device (1), in particular on the bucket (9).

7. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the interruption (65) is present at a central position of the half-lip (41).

8. Device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the length (Li) of the interruption (65), measured along an elongation direction (E) of the half-lip (41), is less than 20% of the length (Ll) of the half-lip (41), measured along the elongation direction (E) of the half-lip (41).

9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe bucket (9) includes a network (55) of surfaces and / or conduits for directing condensate flowing from the lip (42) to a lower part of the bucket (9) receiving a condensate reservoir.

10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9) forms a cavity (50) receiving a sealing gasket (51), the lip (42) resting on said sealing gasket (51).

11. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cavity (50) receiving the sealing gasket (51) includes at least one opening (52) configured to evacuate any potential condensate present in said cavity (50).

12. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in thatthe upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9) includes a chamfer or fillet (56), in particular a fillet (56) concave with respect to the receiving space (33).

13. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lip (42) is in a lower part of the box (16).

14. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height (Hp) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9) perpendicular to the bottom (8) is less than the height (He) of the side wall of the box (32) perpendicular to the bottom (8).

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